Chapter 391: I Bet 10 Million That China Wins! The Blue Arena: China vs. USA

【Chinese National Team: Let me play against Germany? Me?】

【This is too absurd; with a total market value of 800 million euros, what can the national team possibly do?】

【Chinese football is unwatchable; I don't understand what you guys are persisting in.】

【Are the "white-cut chicken" players of the national team going up there just to lose face?】

Because the national team's performance had been terrible in recent years, the atmosphere in the comment sections of Douyin and Weibo was far from good.

Most critically, the national team's record in friendly matches was now three losses and one win, looking utterly disastrous.

With such results, it was inevitable that people would scold them.

Just as everyone was criticizing the national team for their two consecutive friendly defeats, the players began departing for Italy to prepare for their final warm-up match before the World Cup.

Their opponent was the USA Men's National Team!

"Hey, we're being cursed at,"

Wu Lei said softly, prompting the curious Tang Ye to lean in: "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Wu Lei simply held his phone screen out in front of Tang Ye.

It was the Weibo interface, with the hashtag #NationalTeamTwoConsecutiveFriendlyLosses.

Below in the comment section, every single post was cursing the national team players.

"Uh..."

Sucking a mouthful of orange juice through a straw, Tang Ye widened his eyes: "There aren't many countries that can beat Brazil and France, you know..."

"They don't care about that."

Wu Lei shook his head and placed his phone on the tray table in front of him.

It was clear he had grown accustomed to being cursed at.

"Mmm..."

Tang Ye pursed his lips, his mood not very good.

He felt that his teammates always carried an inexplicable pressure, and now it seemed public opinion accounted for a large part of it.

Of course, there was no helping it; even the most formidable people would feel overwhelmed when facing cyberbullying.

Popping a fresh piece of gum into his mouth, Tang Ye returned to his seat, deciding not to dwell on these frustrating matters any longer.

The players chose to ignore it, but some personalities simply couldn't ignore such things.

The father of GG Bond, GG Tang Zhengxiong!

Ever since the national team lost to Brazil, Tang Tang Zhengxiong had been using his Douyin and Weibo accounts to trade insults with netizens.

Tang Tang Zhengxiong's Weibo account carried the verified "V" badge; as the arguing escalated, it eventually attracted widespread attention, leading to Tang Tang Zhengxiong accepting another reporter interview.

"Yeah, I'm going to rant, so what?"

Facing the camera, Tang Tang Zhengxiong showed not a hint of panic: "Damn it, some people are just unreasonable; shouldn't everyone be cheering for the national team making it to the World Cup? What's with all the booing?"

"My Weibo has already been banned, but I don't care."

Tang Tang Zhengxiong acted carefree: "I won't bother anymore; let them play around on Weibo by themselves."

The reporter seemed startled by Tang Tang Zhengxiong's attitude and involuntarily stepped back two paces: "Mainly, the national team was drawn into a group with Germany and Senegal; qualifying won't be just ordinarily difficult."

"It's not like only advancing from the group stage counts as success; as I said before, even a draw would be quite comfortable."

"But!"

Tang Tang Zhengxiong suddenly changed his tone: "Since so many people don't support the national team, I must go against them."

Reaching out, he directly took the microphone from the reporter's hand: "For the third match against Sweden, I..."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got; Tang Tang Zhengxiong was completely carried away.

"In the first match against Germany,"

Tang Tang Zhengxiong held up one finger on his right hand.

"I'll bet 10 million that China wins!"

Dongqiu Di pinned post: Tang Ye's father declares he will bet 10 million on the Chinese team in the China-Germany match. (72,315 comments)

【Have to say, Brother Xiong really knows how to stir things up.】

【Tang Ye doesn't show off; it's because his father is too showy, leaving him nothing to show off about.】

【Hahaha】

【Thanks to our Ball King's father for manipulating the odds single-handedly; thank you!】

【Brother Tang Zhengxiong is still too abstract, but his genes are truly undeniable.】

Ciserano, Italy.

Atalanta Serie A training base.

With less than ten days remaining until the start of the first round of the World Cup group stage, the atmosphere within the national team was gradually becoming tense.

Because of this, the national team organized a barbecue event, and after training, the players gathered on the training ground.

"Whoosh, whoosh,"

Tang Ye lifted the beef skewer from his mouth, blowing on it continuously: "Although I haven't started eating yet, judging by the steam rising from it, it must be very hot right now, so I cannot eat it."

After completing this analysis, Tang Ye placed the beef back onto the grill.

"But..."

Zhang Zhang Yuning pointed at the beef skewer Tang Ye had put back: "If you leave it there, won't it be unable to cool down?"

"Hmm, seems like you're right."

Brother Zhang Yuning was correct; Tang Ye could only reach out again to pick up the beef skewer, temporarily holding it in his hand.

"Haha, come on, Tang Ye, here's this skewer for you; you can eat it directly."

Wu Lei handed a bunch of already-grilled beef skewers to Tang Ye, while Feng Feng Xiaoting and Deng Deng Hanwen did the same.

Children eat first; that's the rule.

"Oh, no need, no need."

Tang Ye took a step back: "I want to eat what I grill myself; self-grilled tastes better."

"Haha, then I'll eat first."

Wu Lei bit the beef off the bamboo skewer with force: "By the way, Tang Ye, have you seen the news?"

"I've been watching quite a lot lately; what's up?"

Tang Ye sat on the grass, carefully gripping the beef skewer with both hands to prevent it from falling onto the grass.

"Your dad bet 10 million that we'd beat Germany; is that true or fake?"

After Wu Lei spoke, nearby teammates all gathered over.

To go head-to-head with netizens, Tang Tang Zhengxiong backing the Chinese team, which had no chance of winning, with 10 million was indeed a bit exaggerated.

"Oh, I know about that; haha."

Tang Ye laughed out loud: "I don't know if he actually placed the bet; I feel he was probably just blowing smoke. Earlier, when I was training in Shandong, my dad said he was coming to see me, but do you know where he went? That damn guy went to America to watch American football, damn it."

Tang Ye waved the beef skewer in his hand: "I don't really believe what he says; our base has over twenty players from other regions, and my dad has visited me the least, yet he always says he's coming."

"No, no."

Realizing he had gone off-topic, Tang Ye quickly pulled the conversation back: "He probably wouldn't bet as much as 10 million, but if he did, there's nothing I can do about it; just consider it a donation."

"Haha."

The teammates laughed; at this moment, Tang Ye felt the beef skewer in his hand had cooled down enough, so he lightly touched it with his mouth: "Mm, just right!"

"By the way, Tang Ye, so every time parents came to pick people up, you hid in the dorm playing games; was that because your dad didn't come?"

Wei Wei Shihao suddenly spoke; Wu Lei paused for a moment, then realized: "Oh, right, you guys are all from Shandong Luneng."

"Not entirely."

While eating the beef, Tang Ye said: "Mainly, the games were indeed fun; back then I played CF and LOL, and I had many online friends. Actually, I regret going to Shandong a bit; I didn't expect my dad to just stop coming."

"Why didn't he come? Shouldn't your parents be free?"

"My dad thinks boys should be a bit more independent; he believes that's good for me, and even though my mom wanted to come, he stopped her."

Tang Ye shrugged his shoulders.

"But it doesn't matter; there are many teammates at the base to play with, so I didn't feel too bad."

Tang Ye quickly finished eating the beef.

"By the way, when I was ten, I could already buy plane tickets and fly by myself; back then it was a bit awkward for me. I had a classmate friend from Fujian, so I would buy him a business-class ticket to have him accompany me back to Guangdong first, then go to Fujian, so I'd have someone with me."

Saying this, Tang Ye pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Sigh... but now he's not even online on QQ; I can't contact him at all, and we played together for so long."

While the players were chatting on the training ground, Lippi and Madalone were in the office discussing tactical matters.

"Yes, we must win against America; that will greatly boost our morale."

"But America will definitely want to win too."

Lippi replied; on the table before him lay the 23-man roster for the American team.

Madalone was extremely confident: "No, no, Mr. Lippi, America cannot possibly be our match."

"Be a bit more humble."

Lippi reminded him, and Madalone instantly became obedient.

"Mm... sorry, Mr. Lippi."

Adjusting his glasses, Lippi briefly discussed the arrangements for the friendly match against America with Madalone.

First, go all out to play; see how the first half goes. If there's a chance to win, then keep Tang Ye on the field to secure the victory and properly boost the morale of the national football players.

If it becomes clear we can't win, then substitute Tang Ye off immediately.

The logic is simple.

If Tang Ye doesn't play the full match, the Chinese national team has an excuse for any loss.

We didn't use our full strength!

Check Dongqiu Di Match Preview: The last friendly before the World Cup, Chinese National Team vs. America at the Blue Arena.

Baidu Hot Search No. 1: The China-US Showdown Arrives.

【Wait, what?】

【Damn, seeing the words 'China-US Showdown' made my heart skip a beat.】

【You scared me; any brothers have a link to watch the match? I just realized the Chinese national team made it to the World Cup.】

With less than 24 hours until the friendly match between the Chinese men's national team and the American men's national team began, fans flooded the comments section under Tang Tang Zhengxiong's Douyin post.

【Brother Xiong, betting 10 million on China beating Germany in the China-Germany showdown isn't as good as betting 10 million on China beating America in the China-US showdown.】

The fans were being abstract; unexpectedly, less than a minute after the comment was posted, Tang Tang Zhengxiong himself replied.

【Tang Tang Zhengxiong (Author): America is nothing; the 10 million must be won against Germany.】

【Boss, you're generous!】

【Brother Xiong, can you raffle off an apartment in the comments? I've been a fan of Tang Ye for 20 years.】

"Tom! Tom!"

The bus drove toward the stadium's side gate, surrounded by many local fans.

Apart from playing against Juventus in the Champions League, Tang Ye had never been to Italy before.

He hadn't expected so many of his own fans to be here.

Tom had not yet stepped into the Serie A underworld.

Yet legends of him circulated throughout that underworld!

"Three, two, one!"

"Go China!"

USA (5-3-2)

Goalkeeper: Steffen

……

Compared to China, the USA was slightly weaker, so in this match the Americans would play rather conservatively.

The game had just begun; remembering Maddaloni's instructions, the Chinese national team players immediately ramped up the tempo.

Tang Ye played a key role in this; through continuous passing combinations with his teammates, he successfully secured an advantage in possession.

"Hiss, brothers, this is the first time in recent warm-up matches that the national team has held a possession advantage!"

Seeing the statistics, Wang Chao and the fans in the livestream room were all extremely happy.

Did it feel like China had a chance to win today?

Standing still for a moment, Tang Ye pushed the ball forward to Wu Lei, then pulled out to the right.

Wu Lei passed the ball back to Tang Ye!

Controlling the ball, Tang Ye began to observe.

Ahead stood the USA team's defensive midfielder...

"Here!"

Calling Zheng Zhi up, he feigned a pass toward the center, but instead played a through-ball that sliced along the touchline.

To Zhang Zhang Yuning at the very front!

The attack down the flank had been successfully executed; the Chinese team pressed forward in force.

Facing the swarming tackle, Zhang Zhang Yuning chose to first pass the ball to Wu Lei.

Wu Lei cut it back!

The target was Zhang Zhang Xizhe!

"Here!"

Reaching out to demand the ball from Zhang Zhang Xizhe, Tang Ye didn't control it, instead launching a long pass that immediately switched play to the left-wing baseline.

The one receiving the ball was Wang Wang Shenchao, making a run from behind!

Wang Wang Shenchao slowed down!

Creeping closer to the penalty area bit by bit...

Slap!

The cross came in, finding Wu Lei at the far post of the box!

Shot!

Goal!

But...

"Damn it, that goal was f*cking offside!"

Wang Chao clutching his head.

When Wang Wang Shenchao made the horizontal pass, Wu Lei was half a foot offside, so this goal did not count.

"It's fine, it's fine, good! Good!"

Lippi gave a thumbs-up to the players on the field.

It didn't matter that the goal was disallowed.

What mattered most was that the Chinese team had just executed a very fluid attack.

After twenty days and four warm-up matches of training, this was exactly the kind of attack China should be producing!

Cough! Cough!

Spit!

Spitting a mouthful of saliva onto the grass, Tang Ye slowly retreated.

The match had now been going on for nearly twenty minutes, and he had roughly figured out the characteristics of all eleven USA players.

Next, the Chinese team's attacks had to be even fiercer!

Find an opportunity, find an opportunity!

Dribbling wildly twenty meters through the center, Tang Ye used his rhythm to shake off two USA defenders.

Arriving near the edge of the arc.

Facing a USA defender coming out from the penalty area, Tang Ye made a relatively rare choice.

He turned and dribbled backward!

Creating distance from the defender!

Just as the goalkeeper let his guard down, Tang Ye suddenly hopped up and, using his right heel, flicked the ball directly into the penalty area.

It was aimed at Wu Lei inside the box!

Slap!

Shot!

Goal!

This time there was no offside!

Check Dongqiu Di live match report: Tang Ye delivers a brilliant backheel assist, Wu Lei calmly times his run to score, China leads 1:0.

"Mm!"

After high-fiving Wu Lei, Tang Ye begins to drop back.

Having just faced Ba Xi He Fa, suddenly playing against the weaker United States team makes the Chinese national football players feel instantly more comfortable.

Tang Ye can see that in this match, the two strikers, Wu Lei and Zhang Zhang Yuning, are both in excellent form.

He needs to seek more coordination with the strikers!

"Maintain this state, maintain this state!"

The translator's voice comes from the substitutes' bench; Lippi emphasizes the upcoming tactical assignments.

Continue creating more goals!

The primary purpose of a friendly match is to gradually adjust the team's tactics and enhance the squad's combat effectiveness for official matches.

And this match against the United States is the national team's final friendly before the World Cup.

Generally speaking, the final friendly match carries additional objectives.

This additional objective is to boost the team's morale!

Only a confident team can go far in the World Cup!

"Forward, forward, you go, you go!"

Dragging the ball and turning, a simple feint combined with a change of rhythm, Tang Ye easily shakes off the defender.

Against such an average defender, the 【Zidane Rhythm Control Template】 is simply too effective.

Slap!

A through pass is delivered straight!

"Wow!!!"

In the stands, the Italian fans rise to their feet as Tang Ye's precise through ball finds Wu Lei, who has made a forward run into the penalty area.

This is a one-on-one chance!

……

(End of Chapter)